Grizzly Bear Population Status Indicator

• There are approximately XX Grizzly bears in Brish Columbia ¹

• In BC, the grizzly bear population is divided into 55 Grizzly Bear Population Units (GBPUs).

• Using GBPUs helps us to identify localised concenservation concerns and prioritise management across the province.

• Each GBPU is assigned a management status (M5 to M1) which represents least concern to highest concern. Management status are based on three main components 1) population size and isolation, 2) population trends and 3) levels of threat to bears or bear habitat. This is based on the NatureServe status assesment method ²

• The overall threat was determined by considered six catergories ; Agriculture, Biouse, Climate Change, Energy, Human intrusion, Residential, Transportation.

Interactive Map

Click on the tabs and explore the ranking, population and threats facing GBPU across B.C.

Management Status

Population Density Estimate

Threat Classification

Details

Level of Threat

Of the 55 GBPU, the majority of units were low. The Yahk GBPU, located in the Kooteney-Boundary was ranked as Very High risk due to XZY.

Across all 55 GBPU, the type of threat with the highest impact was Biouse, transportation and Residential. Threats from human intrusion, energy, climate change and agriculture had a low to negligible threat.

More about Grizzly bears

Is this needed?

Methods

British Columbia’s grizzly bear population management units are assigned ranking based on population and isolation, population trend and threats ¹.

We used internationally recognized methodology, developed by NatureServe ^nature serve ref^ to ensure ranking were in line with international standards on species managemetn criteria (NatureServe and international ranking (IUCN)

The threats are based on the IUCN-CMP (Conservation Measures Partnership) classifications of direct threats . To document the steps for ranking species or ecosystems NatureServe uses an ‘Element Rank Calculator[http://www.natureserve.org/conservation-tools/conservation-rank-calculator] . The calculator includes a summary of the IUCN threats to species13, as well as, population size, trend and other criteria based on standardized ranking methods12.

The Nature Serve calculator uses the 11 IUCN threat categories to determine impacts to species (residential and commercial development, agriculture and aqua- culture, energy production and mining, transportation and service corridors, biological resource use, human intrusions and disturbance, natural system modifications, invasives and other problematic species and genes, pollution, geological events, climate change and severe weather). Threat categories are based on threat scope and severity. The NatureServe calculator then combines the individual threats to determine an overall threat category. Appendix 5 in British Columbia’s Guide to Recovery Planning for Species and Ecosystems presents a full description of NatureServe threat assignment using threat scope, severity, and timing.

Each GBPU starts with a rank of 5 – M5 no conservation concern – this value is reduced based on 1) negative population trend, 2) small and/or isolated population, and 3) overall threat (negligible, low, medium, high & very high)

References and Other Useful Links

¹[2019 Grizzly Bear Population Unit Management Ranking] (http:// UPDATE THIS TO RELEASED DATA SET)

² NatureServe. 2015. NatureServe Element Occurrence Viability Calculator Version 1. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.

• [British Columbia conservation Foundation’s Bear Aware Program] (https://wildsafebc.com/grizzly-bear/)

Data

*By accessing these datasets, you agree to the licence associated with each file, as indicated in parentheses below.

• Indicator data: BC Grizzly Bear Habitat Classification and Rating

Published and Available On-Line at Environmental Reporting BC (August 2019):
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/soe/indicators/plants-and-animals/grizzly-bears.html

Email correspondence to: envreportbc@gov.bc.ca

Suggested Citation:
Environmental Reporting BC. 2019. Grizzly Bear Population Status in B.C. State of Environment Reporting, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, British Columbia, Canada.